Henning Kagermann

Who is Henning Kagermann?

Henning Kagermann was chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of SAP AG. Together with Hasso Plattner, co-founder of SAP, he was co-chairman of the SAP Executive Board and CEO From 1998 to 2003. Following Plattner's election as chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board in May 2003, Kagermann became sole chairman of the SAP Executive Board and CEO until he retired in May 2009. Kagermann had overall responsibility for SAP's strategy, business development and also oversaw the areas of global communications, global intellectual property, internal audit, and top talent management.

Kagermann joined SAP in 1982 and was initially responsible for product development in the areas of cost accounting and controlling. Later, he oversaw the development of all administrative solutions, including human resources, as well as industry-specific development for banking, insurance, public sector, and healthcare. His duties also included finance and administration as well as the management of all SAP regions. He has been a member of the SAP Executive Board since 1991.

Kagermann studied physics in Braunschweig and Munich. He received his doctorate degree in theoretical physics in 1975 from the TU Braunschweig, Germany, and was promoted to professor there in 1985. He taught physics and computer science at TU Braunschweig and University of Mannheim, both in Germany, from 1980-1992. Kagermann also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Magdeburg, Germany, and is a trustee of the Technical University of Munich. He is also a member of the honorary senate of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Prizewinners.